Coming from a fighting game boomer that really likes games with powerful mechanics and freedom of combos...

This game is amazing. I don't know what they did to make training combos in this game be so satisfying, its crack. The mix of the hit sounds and the speed, and the TK cancelling mechanical motion and mastery, just feels so good I can spend hours labbing this game just exploring combos and routes.

The feel of playing matches is pretty good too, you can sidestep to prevent some zoning and super jump to approach fast at people, you are rewarded for being good at offense, but also the defender has a lot of tools to get back to the game, like Defensive Activation (Burst), Neutral Activation (Health Regen), Guard Cancels, Universal DPs (623C), Push Block.

Has a fame of being a kusoge (shit game) with infinites, but in reality it is a very well made game.

Oh and don't play the PSP version if you can choose, the PS2 version is the real deal.

The IP Acquire had to create when they wanted to make a ninja game but sold Tenchu to From Software.

Ahead of it's time, very cool idea of 'ninja life RPG', where you choose the feudal lord you will accept works from in a time of war.

Very good gameplay, with good movement with momentum preservation, wall running and wall jumping, and very fast pace overall, as for example, you can use grappling hook without aiming and while in the air even. Can be wonky sometimes but very satisfying when mastered.

A variety of items with interesting effects, and a whole alchemy and buff/debuff system with potions and the like that you can create your own bombs/potions/bait items.

Really interesting mission editor that you could create custom mission of all sorts and play yourself or possibly have other people play them. (Not very well explored as at the time this game came out, network functions weren't that common so you had to practically have an offline circle of friends to really use this feature to it's fullest)

Cool ambience and character designs, overall amazing game that should return with a PC port re-release or a new game.